Pin ticket machine and method



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. A. FLOOD PIN TICKET MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Feb. 17, 1953 N mwwwkw 1% all/4,

April 10, 1934.

April 10, 1934. c FLOOD 1,954,287

PIN TICKET MACHINEkAND METHOD- Filed Feb. 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIN TICKET MACHINE AND METHOD Application February 17, 1933, Serial No. 657,233

25 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for pinning a price ticket or the like to a garment or other article, and as in my prior application Serial No. 565,466 filed September 28, 1931, the machine may also print the tickets as they are fed to the pinning station. While the pinning mechanism of this invention functions on a different principle from that disclosed in my prior application, it may be and preferably is utilized in conjunction with feeding and printing mechanism such as disclosed in the prior application; but inasmuch as the relationship between the pinning mechanism on the one hand and the feeding and printing mechanism on the other hand is the same in both cases reference may be had to the prior application for these relationships.

As in the case of the invention disclosed in the aforesaid application, this invention is particularly useful with tickets, such as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 486,360 filed October 4, 1930, which have an opening therein to receive the point of the pin and direct it to a position where the point is protected. Preferably the opening extends only partially through the ticket, for example through one ply of a multiply ticket, so that the point may readily be directed through the opening to a position intermediate the plies. The machine disclosed in said Serial No. 565,466 comprises a pointed guide which enters the opening to facilitate insertion of the point. While this arrangement functions perfectly if properly adjusted and used with ordinary care, it requires accurate adjustment and careful use; otherwise the pointed guide may break off or the pins may bebent as they are inserted through the ticket and article. The engagement of the point of the pin against the guide also tends to turn the point and the surface of the guide tends to become roughened.

According to the present invention the pointed guide is eliminated and instead of spreading the opening the portion of the ticket in the region of the opening is flexed to locate the opening obliquely in the path of the pin so that the danger of bending the pin in inserting the point in the opening is eliminated. If the point is to be guided to a position between the faces of the ticket, in contradistinction to a position between the ticket and article, the portion of the ticket beyond the opening is left free to flex back into the path of the pin as the point passes to its final position within the ticket. The elimination of the pointed guide also reduces the danger of breakage and the cost of manufacture; and the new method of inserting the pin point into the ticket opening not only facilitates adjustment of the machine but permits a wider range of adjustment without bending the pin.

For the purpose of illustrating the genus of the invention a typical concrete embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. l is a front elevation with parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a part of the machine 5 on an enlarged scale with the parts in different operative position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts in still a diiferent position;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified ticket;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of another modification; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of still another modification.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises upper and lower clamps for clamping a ticket and article together for the pinning operation, the ticket and article being shown in clamped position 35 in Figs. 2 and 3, the ticket at 3 and the article in the form of a sheet of fabric or the likeat 4. The lower clamp comprises a vertically reciprocating rod or plunger 2 which is shown in retracted position in Fig. 1 and in advanced position in Figs. 2 and 3. The upper clamp comprises the member marked 1 in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 and a second part shown at 5 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The upper end of the plunger is rounded and the lower end of part 1 is correspondingly recessed to flex the ticket and article as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The part 5 of the upper portion of the clamp projects below the part 1 on the right-hand side of the plunger still further to flex the right-hand end of the ticket. In the lower face of the projecting part of the member 5 is a groove 6 (Fig.

2) to permit the passage of the pin into the ticket and article; and similar grooves in alignment with the first groove are also provided in the upper end of the plunger and in the part 1 as indicated at 7 and 8 in Figs. 2 and 5.

The pin 9 is inserted into the ticket and article by means of a plunger 10 which is actuated by a slide 11, an arm 12 pivoted at 13, an arm 14, a cam 15 actuated by shaft 16 and engaging a cam follower 17 on the arm 14. The arm 12 is yieldingly interconnected with the arm. 14 by means of a rod 18 pivoted to arm 14 and sliding through a lug 19 on the arm 12 with a compression spring 20 interposed between the lug l9 and the nuts 21 threaded on the end of the rod 18. Thus when the arm 14 is swung in a counterclockwise direction by the cam 15 the arm 12 is yieldingly pushed in counterclockwise direction by the spring 20. The plunger 2 is vertically reciprocated by means of an arm 22 pivoted at 23 and an arm 24 which is also pivoted on the shaft 13. As shown in Fig. 1 the right-hand ends of the arms 22 and 24 extend upwardly and are interconnected by means of a spring 25. The arm 24 has a cam follower 26 actuated by the cam 15 and an adjusting screw 27 to limit the clockwise movement of the arm 22 about its pivot 23. Thus when the arm 24 is swung in a clockwise direction by the cam 15 the spring causes the arm 22 to move clockwise, keeping the arm 22 against the adjusting screw 27 until the plunger 2 meets a resistance stronger than the spring 25.

The pins are fed to the machine in the form of a pin strip such as disclosed and claimed in my Patent 1,880,197 granted October 4, 1932. This pin strip is fed downwardly through the guide 29 which gradually folds the paper strip on itself, the folded strip 30 (Fig. 2) issuing through a slot 31 and thence passing to the feed rolls 32 by which the strip is advanced step by step through intervals equal to the spacing between the pins in the strip. The tickets are fed to pinning position (Figs. 1 and 4) from the rear of the machine by suitable mechanism, as for example like that shown in aforesaid application Serial No. 565,466. Each ticket is held in this position by a plunger 32 which is lightly pressed against the left-hand edge of the ticket by a spring 33 to support the ticket without bending by frictional engagement with the head of the plunger and the opposing abutment 34 (Fig. 4) which preferably has a shoulder underlying the ticket as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

According to this invention the portion of the ticket adjacent the point of the pin when the pin comes to rest (the left-hand portion in the illustration) is flexed into the path of the pin so that the point is caused to enter the ticket independently of the article to which the ticket is attached, whereby the point will not project on the exposed side of the ticket. The particular means shown for this purpose comprises the L-shaped auxiliary clamping member 35 (Fig. 6) which is pivoted in the bifurcated end of a plate 38 on a pin 36 passing through an opening 37 in the member and aligned openings in said bifurcated end. The member 35 extends upwardly along the front face of the back plate 39 and is rocked back and forth by a bar 42 behind the plate, the member and bar being interconnected by a pin 40 extending through a slot 41 in the plate. As shown in Fig. '7 the front plates 1 and 43 are recessed to receive the upstanding end of the clamping member 35; and as shown in Fig. 5 the lower end of plate 1 has a lateral extension projecting rearwardly into a recess 52 in the lower end of back plate 39. The lower end 44 of the clamping member projects underneath the ticket, when the latter reaches pinning position, throughout the whole or a substantial portion of the width of the ticket. When member 35 is rocked clockwise this end 44 is slightly below the level of the ticket (Fig. 1) and when rocked counterclockwise it flexes the left-hand end of the ticket upwardly against the abutment 45 which slopes upwardly to the left. When the clamp 44 is in clamping position (Figs. 2,3 and 5) its upper face is approximately horizontal and below the normal path of the pin so that the latter may pass between the opposing parts of this auxiliary clamp without flexing, and only the nose of the part 44 is effective to clamp the ticket, leaving the margin of. the ticket free to flex back to horizontal position (Fig. 3) when the point of the pin is inserted thereinto. As shown in Fig. 6 the clamping portion of part 44 may be provided with a groove 46, beneath the path of the pin. This groove serves to receive the point of the pin it the point pierces through the ticket, and in the preferred mode of operation wherein the point does not pierce through the lower stratum of the ticket the groove receives the bulge produced in this stratum by the pin if there is any bulging tendency due to large size of pin, thinness of the stratum, etc.

While the bar 42 for rocking the clamp 35 may be actuated in any suitable manner it is preferably actuated in the same way as the corresponding bar for rocking the pointed guide of my prior application. Serial No. 555,466, namely by a spring 4'7 attached to the bar at 48 and to the frame of the machine at 49 and by pin 59 which projects into slot 51 in the bar. As the pin starts to the left (Fig. l) the spring causes the bar to move to the left until the nose 44 of the auxiliary clamp 35 reaches clamping position,

whereupon the bar and clamp stop and the pin 50 advances along the groove 51, and in the reverse movement of pin 50 it is eiiective to un clamp the ticket only at the end of its stroke.

As in my prior application the machine is preferably driven by a motor which is connected to the shaft 16 by a clutch which is manually thrown into engagement by pressing rearwardly on the plate 50' in the act of placing an article in pinning position and which is automatically thrown out of engagement at the end of one complete cycle of operation.

Instead of making the ticket opening in the shape of a circle as shown at 53 in Fig. 4 it may have any suitable shape and may extend either partially or entirely through the ticket. in Fig. 8 the opening is shown in the form or a slit 54 extending through one ply of a twoply ticket 55; in Fig. 9 the opening is shown in the form of a groove or score line 56 in a single-ply ticket 5'7; and in Fig. 10 the opening is shown in the form of a slit 53 formed between two plies by making one ply shorter than the other. In the latter example the two plies are preferably cemented together only on opposite sides of the path of the pin but if desired they may be cemented throughout the entire area of their opposing faces, in which case the pin forces the plies apart along its path of entry, the point having little if any tendency to pierce the surface of either ply due to the hard smooth character of the surfaces, the degree of obliquity between the pin and the surfaces, and the fact that the portion of the ticket beyond the point of entry is free to flex into the path of the pin as the point (or the side of the point) slides along the hard smooth surface of the ticket.

From the foregoing it vwlll be evident that this improved method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening therein comprises flexing the ticket to present the opening obliquely in the path of the pin so that there is no danger of bending the pin in the pinning operation. Preferably the pin first enters the ticket from the same side as that from which it subsequently enters the opening (the upper side in the illustration). This first point of entry is more or less remote from the opening so that the pin, after passing through the article, may emerge from said side at a point intermediate said point and said opening and may then pass into the opening from the same side. If the point of the pin is directed above the opening it engages the groove 8 in part 1 and as the pin is advanced it is thereby caused to swing bodily into line with the opening. If the point is directed below the opening it engages the ticket in advance of the opening and then slides over the surface of the ticket until it reaches the opening, the obliquity of the parts preventing the pin from piercing the ticket in advance of the opening, at least until the pin rides up against the surface of groove 8 in anvil 1. However, the parts are preferably so adjusted that the point is directed at the opening, instead of above or below the opening, and so that the pin is closely confined by the three grooves 7 and 8.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of pinning a ticket to an article, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article with the point projecting from one side of the ticket, flexing the ticket so that a portion of the ticket in advance of said projecting point is disposed obliquely in the path of the pin, inserting said point into said obliquely disposed portion, and allowing the latter portion to recede to a position substantially parallel to the path of said point as said point advances therein so that said point remains within the ticket.

2. The method of pinning a ticket to an ar ticle, having an opening therein, which cornprises holding the ticket and article in juxtapo sition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article with the point entering the ticket from one side and projecting from the same side, flexing the ticket so that the portion of the ticket in advance of said projecting point is disposed obliquely in the path of the pin, inserting said point into said obliquely disposed portion, and allow ing the latter portion to recede to a position substantially parallel to the path of said point as said point advances therein so that said point remains within the ticket.

3. The method of pinning a ticket to an article, Which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article with the point of the pin projecting from the ticket, flexing the ticket to present a portion of the ticket obliquely in the path of the pin, and then inserting the point of the pin into said portion to a position between the opposite iaces of the ticket with the portion of the ticket beyond said portion free to flex back into the plane of the pin as the point moves to said position.

4. The method of pinning a ticket to an article, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article with the point of the pin entering and projecting from the same side of the ticket, flexing the ticket to present a portion of the ticket in advance of said projecting point obliquely in the path of the pin, and then inserting the point end of the pin into said portion to a position within and substantially parallel to the opposite faces of the ticket with the portion of the ticket beyond said portion free to flex back into the plane of the pin as the point moves to said position.

5. The method of pinning to an article a multiply ticket having an opening in an outer ply exposing a portion of another ply, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article, flexing the ticket to present the opening obliquely in the path of the pin, and then inserting the point of the pin through said opening and along said another ply to protect the point.

6. The method of pinning to an article a multiply ticket having an opening in an outer ply exposing a portion of another ply, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and an article with the point projecting from one side of the ticket in advance of said opening, flexing the ticket to present the opening obliquely in the path of the pin, and then inserting the point of the pin from said side of the ticket into said opening and beneath said outer ply.

7. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening formed in one face thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article with the point projecting from said one face of the ticket in advance of said opening, flexing the ticket in the region of said opening so that the portion of the ticket adjacent the opening is disposed obliquely in the path of the pin, and then inserting said point into the opening and beyond the edge thereof to a position within the ticket.

8. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening formed in one surface thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article with the point entering the ticket from one side at a point remote from said opening and emerging from the same side at a point 120 intermediate said point and said opening, flexing the ticket across the path of the pin in the region of said opening so that the portion of the ticket adjacent the opening is disposed obliquely in the path of the pin, and then inserting said 125 point into the opening and beyond the edge thereof while allowing the flexed portion of the ticket to recede as said point advances to a position within the ticket.

9. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening formed in one surface thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and into the article from one side of the ticket, thence from the article through the ticket, flexing the ticket to present the opening obliquely in the path of the pin while maintaining the latter substantially straight and free from bending, and then inserting the point of the pin from said side of the ticket into said opening and beyond 140 the edge thereof while allowing the flexed portion of the ticket to recede as said point advances to a position within the ticket 10. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening formed in one surface thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in flexed juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article transversely of the flexure with the point projecting from one side of the ticket in advance of said opening, and further advancing the pin, while flexing the ticket to present said opening obliquely in the path of the point, until the point passes into and beyond the opening, and allowing the flexed portion of the ticket to recede as the point of the pin advances beyond the opening.

11. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening formed in one surface thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in flexed juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article transversely of the flexure and toward said opening with the pin emerging from one side of the ticket in advance of said opening, and further advancing the pin, while flexing the ticket to present said opening obliquely in the path of the point, until the point passes into and beyond the opening, and allowing the flexed portion of the ticket to recede as the point of the pin advances beyond the opening.

12. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening formed in one surface thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article with the point projecting from one side of the ticket in advance of the opening, flexing a portion of the ticket in the region of the opening toward said side to position the opening obliquely in the path of the pin, and further advancing the pin to cause the point to enter the opening and to pass beyond the edge thereof to a position within the ticket.

13. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening formed in one surface thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article T in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article with the point entering the ticket from one side at a point remote from said opening and emerging from the same side at a point intermediate said point and said opening, flexing the ticket in the region of said opening so that the opening is disposed obliquely in the path of the pin, and further advancing the pin until the point enters the opening and passes therebeyond to a position within the ticket.

14. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening extending partially through the ticket from one side thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article, flexing the ticket to present the opening obliquely in the path of the pin while allowing the pin to remain substantially straight, and then inserting the point of the pin through said opening to a position between the opposite faces of the ticket while allowing the flexed portion of the ticket to recede transversely of the path of the pin as the point of the pin advances between said opposite faces.

15. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening extending partially through the ticket from one side thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article, the pin entering the ticket from said side at a point remote from the opening and emerging from said side at a point intermediate said point and opening, flexing the ticket to present the opening obliquely in the path of the pin, and then inserting the point of the pin through said opening to a position between the opposite faces of the ticket while allowing the flexed portion of the ticket to recede transversely of the path of the pin as the point of the pin advances between said opposite faces.

16. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening extending partially through the ticket from one side thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article, flexing the ticket to present the opening obliquely in the path of the pin without substantially bending the pin, and then inserting the point of the pin through said opening to a position between the opposite faces of the ticket with the portion of the ticket beyond the opening free to flex back into the plane of the pin as the point moves to said position.

1'7. The method of pinning to an article a ticket having an opening extending partially through the ticket from one side thereof, which comprises holding the ticket and article in juxtaposition, inserting a pin through the ticket and article, the pin entering the ticket from said side at a point remote from the opening and emerging from said side at a point intermediate said point and opening, flexing the ticket to present the opening obliquely in the path of the pin, and then inserting the point of the pin through said opening to a position between the opposite faces of the ticket with the portion of the ticket beyond the opening free to flex back into the plane of the pin as the point moves to said position.

18. A machine for pinning a ticket or the like to an article comprising parts having relative movement toward and from each other for flexing the ticket and article therebetween, means for inserting a pin through the ticket and article transversely of the flexure from one marginal portion of the ticket, and means for holding the opposite marginal portion of the ticket obliquely in the path of the pin with the portion free to flex into said path when the point enters the portion so that the point may continue approximately parallel to and between opposite faces of the ticket.

19. A machine for pinning a ticket or the like to an article comprising parts having relative movement toward and from each other for flexing the ticket and article therebetween, means for inserting a pin through the ticket and article transversely of the flexure from one marginal portion of the ticket, and means projecting between the article and the opposite marginal portion of the ticket for holding the portion obliquely in the path of the pin with the portion free to flex into said path when the point enters the portion so that the point may continue approximately parallel to and between opposite faces of the ticket.

20. A machine for pinning a ticket or the like to an article comprising parts having relative movement toward and from each other for flexing the ticket and article therebetween, means for inserting a pin through the ticket and article transversely of the flexure from one marginal portion of the ticket, means including a movable part projecting between the article and the opposite marginal portion of the ticket for holding the portion obliquely in the path of the pin with the portion free to flex into said path when the point enters the portion so that the point may continue approximately parallel to and between opposite faces of the ticket, and means for causing said movable part to recede from the position in which it holds the marginal portion of the ticket obliquely disposed, to facilitate insertion and removal of tickets.

21. A machine for pinning a ticket or the like to an article comprising parts having relative movement toward and from each other for flexing the ticket and article therebetween, means for inserting a pin through the ticket and article transversely of the fiexure from one marginal portion of the ticket, and means for holding the opposite marginal portion of the ticket obliquely in the path of the pin with the portion free to flex into said path when the point enters the portion so that the point may continue approximately parallel to and between opposite faces of the ticket, one of said parts engaging the ticket on each side of said path in advance of said point of entry and being recessed to permit the passage of the pin.

22. A machine for pinning a ticket or the like to an article comprisin parts having relative movement toward and from each other for flexing the ticket and article therebetween, means for inserting a pin through the ticket and article transversely of the fiexure from one marginal portion of the ticket, and means projecting between the article and the opposite marginal portion of the ticket for holding the portion obliquely in the path of the pin with the portion free to flex into said path when the point enters the portion so that the point may continue approximately parallel to and between opposite faces of the ticket, one of said parts engaging the ticket on each side of said path in advance of said point of entry and being recessed to permit the passage of the pin, and said means engaging the ticket opposite the last said part and immediately in advance of said point of entry.

23. A machine for pinning a ticket or the like to an article comprising parts having relative movement toward and from each other for flexing the ticket and article therebetween, means for inserting a pin through the ticket and article transversely of the fiexure from one marginal portion of the ticket, means including a movable part projecting between the article and the opposite marginal portion of the ticket for holding the portion obliquely in the path of the pin with the portion free to flex into said path when the point enters the portion so that the point may continue approximately parallel to and between opposite faces of the ticket, one of said parts engaging the ticket on each side of said path in advance of said point of entry and being recessed to permit the passage of the pin, and said movable part engaging the ticket opposite the last said part and immediately in advance of said point of entry, and means for causing said movable part to recede from the position in which it holds the marginal portion of the ticket obliquely disposed, to facilitate insertion and removal of tickets.

24. A machine for pinning a ticket or the like to an article comprising relatively movable abutments located on opposite sides of the ticket in staggered relationship for flexing the ticket and article therebetween, and means for inserting a pin along a straight path transversely of the flexure twice through the ticket and article and thence into the ticket at a point of entry spaced from one edge of the ticket, one of said abutments concaving the ticket in advance of said point with a surface inclining away from said path on the side toward said edge to permit the marginal portion of the ticket to extend obliquely across said path, and another of said abutments pressing the ticket against said surface immediately in advance of said point, the latter abutment being located wholly on one side of said path to permit said marginal portion to flex into the path of the pin after entry at said point so that the point of the pin may continue approximately parallel to and between opposite faces of the ticket.

25. The improvement in the art of attaching a ticket by means of a pin which comprises providing a ticket having a surface recess forming a shoulder extending transversely of the path of the pin, and advancing a pin toward the ticket at a point in advance of said shoulder and at an angle to the ticket less than that required to cause the point of the pin to pierce the ticket so that the point of the pin on engaging said shoulder will be directed thereby into the ticket.

CARL A. FLOOD. 

